The West Indian team, buoyed by their success against England in the one day series, took to the field high in spirits with plenty of fielders in the catching cordon to encourage opening bowlers Darren Powell and Ravi Rampaul. Rampaul looked the more impressive with movement from a good length causing Tom de Grooth to get a thick edge through the slips off an attempted square drive. However, Rampaul exacted revenge in the fourth over when he trapped him leg before wicket.

Alex Kervezee, who playing for Worcestershire 2nd XI is used to playing in damp conditions, looked composed and well organised. Bas Zuiderent, veteran of three World Cups, belied his experience with a wild, flashing drive at his first delivery. The ball flashed past the edge and the slips rubbed their hands in excitement and expectation. In the 9th over Zuiderent unfurled a rasping off drive to the fence. Despite this The Netherlands had made a meagre 29 off the first ten overs. Zuiderent and Kervezee fell in quick succession in the 13th over. Kervezee had shown glimpses of the fluency and composure that had appeared to desert him at the World Cup and would have been disappointed not to go on and anchor the innings.

Despite the precarious position of 41 for 3, Borren and Szwarczynski looked to attack. The introduction of Fidel Edwards added some venom to the attack and the Dutch were circumspect, watchful and in truth a little anxious in his first few overs. Peter Borren looked confident after his recent 96 against Canada and lofted several shots over the in-field. However, he fell to Edwards for 7 as he fished to a rising delivery outside off, angling for a boundary to vacant third man. After twenty overs the Dutch were 61 for 4.

Dwayne Smith struck with only his fourth delivery clean bowling Billy Stelling. In the Dublin gloom a hundred looked a long way off for the men in orange. With the scoring rate choked both he, Szwarczynski and Mol fell in quick succession trying to get some momentum into the innings. The innings then floundered as the last four wickets fell for only 8 runs to set a less than challenging total of 80.

The pick of the bowlers were Ravi Rampaul and the canny and accurate medium pace of Dwayne Smith.

The crowd expected a bombastic start to the innings from Chris Gayle and Devon Smith but both Edgar Schiferli and Mudassar Bukhari bowled steadily and extracted some lateral movement. A blistering off drive from Chris Gayle in the fourth over suggested they had several gears in reserve. A half chance edged through second slip by Chris Gayle off Bukhari would have been just reward for a penetrative spell, had it been taken.

In the seventh over Gayle took the attack to Schiferli with consecutive boundaries, neither of which were easy on the eye but provided ample demonstration of the power the West Indian captain posseses. The power of Gayle was complemented by the placement of Smith who worked the gaps with angled drives and clips.

Billy Stelling replaced Schiferli but was greeted with a legside four and then the very next ball a huge, heaved six by Chris Gayle. At the other end Peter Borren dropped a touch too short and was dispatched for two pulled fours by Devon Smith, although the later presented half a chance low down to mid off.

Gayle brought up his 50 from 42 deliveries in the 13th over. A legside clip for four by Smith took West Indies to the total in the 15th over. The West Indies took to their task with ruthless efficiency and secured a comfortable win and a bonus point for their superior run rate.

There were few points of consolation for the Dutch although the composed innings of Kervezee and the bowling of Mudassar Bukhari were promising signs for the rest of the tournament. In truth The Netherlands felt the absence of ten Doeschate and Darren Reekers, two players who can trouble top class players with the ball and are a dynamic influence with the bat.

They will hope for more of an even contest against fellow associates, Ireland, tomorrow.